Paper box



Dec. 1, 1942.

PAPER Box Filed Dec. 12, 1940 2 sheets-sheet '1 u n. .nY q m um 2 7 2 l2 1 3 n H f wf. I v I fm.

fr, Wr?? Dec. Yl, 1942. H. HlRscH 9 2,303,996

PAPER BOX vFiled Dec. 12, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 1, 19.42

UNITEDvv STATES PATENT oEEicE 2,3033996 PAPER Box Henry Hirsch, Jersey City, N. J.

Application December 12, 1940, Serial No. 369,848

2 Claims.

This invention relates to boxes and particularly to boxes composed of lightweight material such as paper or cardboard; and the nature and objects of the invention will be readily recognized and understood by those skilled in the arts to which it relates in the light of the following explanation and detailed description of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I at present believe to be the preferred embodiments and mechanical expressions of the invention from among various other forms, arrangements, combinations, and constructions, of which the invention is capable within the spirit and scope thereof.

It is an important object of my invention to to provide a box which is delivered to the user thereof in collapsed condition and which when opened into normal use position is automatically locked in the latter position against complete or even partial collapsing.

A further feature of my invention is to provide a box of the type and having the characteristics outlined which is capable of relatively hard usage when in normal open position without collapsing.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a box which is of relatively rigid structure when set up for use and which is inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing general objects, features, and results in view, aswell as certain others which will be apparent from the following explanation,

the invention consists in certain novel features and designs, construction, mounting and combination of elements, as will be more fully and particularly referred to and specied hereinafter. I f

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the box with the sides and ends in erect position.

Fig. 2 is a section through the box taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section through the box taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the box of Fig. 1 is formed.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental perspective view of an 2Q the drawings the blank from which the box of end of the box showing the end and side walls in partially collapsed condition.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the box in collapsed condition. l

Fig. 7 is a fragmental plan view of one end of a blank from which a modified type of box is formed.

Fig. 8"is a fragmental perspective View of one end of the modied form of box with the sides and ends in erect position.

Fig. 9 is a fragmental perspective View of the end of the box of Fig. 8 shown in partially collapsed condition.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the several views in the drawings, I and 3 designate oppositely disposed sides and ends re spectively of the box, and the letterB denotes the bottom of the box. As shown in Fig. 4 of Fig. 1 is constructed is scored-along parallel lines 5 and parallel lines I whereby the box bottom is formed when the sides I and 3 are folded along the said score lines into erect position. Since the creases 5 and I outline and form a substantially rectangular bottom Iarea, the sides I of the box are defined and outlined in the blank by fold lines 9 and coextensive cuts II forming slits in the material of the blank extending inwardly a dist-ance from the outer edges of the blank, and by further transverse crease lines I3. The sides I are also provided withcrease lines I4 which extend at an acute angle from the inner ends of the slits II to the corners of the bottom area, thereby providing each side wall I of the box with a triangular folding portion I5 whichl is I movable along the crease or score I4 relative to the sides. The portion of the blank of material from which the box is formed which extends outwardly beyond and is coextensive with the coextensive with the sides I and are made rela-` tively movable with respect thereto by means of the scored lines I3 which define the ends of the sides. The reinforcing flaps are separated from the end members 3 by means .of cuts forming slits 25.

The end members 3 are dened Vby the crease or fold lines 1 and further parallel crease lines 21. Formed coextensive with the ends 3 of the box but of less length transversely of the box bottom B than the ends and extending outwardly beyond creases 21 are locking units 29 having inwardly converging or diagonal cuts therein forming slits 39. The area of the locking units 29 outwardly of and defined by the slits 39 has adhesive material applied thereto, leaving portions 4I on each locking unit which are free of adhesive and are relatively movable with respect to the remainder of the locking units. The portions 4I movably and inwardly project beyond the remainder of the locking units and form locking tongues or side supporting elements for a purpose to be hereinafter pointed out.

In setting up the box from the cut and creased blank form which has just been described in detail the side walls and ends 3 are folded along the crease lines 5 and 1, respectively, to erect position and the reinforcing members l1 are folded inwardly along the crease lines 9 and are caused to adhere to the inner areas of the sides I by `means of the adhesive which is applied over a portion of these members I1. It is apparent that the free flaps I9 to which no adhesive is applied will not adhere to the sides I and will be relatively movable with respect thereto and will overlie the triangular portions I5. The reinforcing flaps 2| are folded against the inner sides of the ends 3 and are caused to adhere thereto by means of an adhesive which is applied to the reverse sides of these flaps. The locking units 29 are next folded inwardly along the creased lines 21 and a portion thereof is caused to adhere to the inner areas of the sides 3 due to the adhesive which is applied thereto within the area defined by the slits 39. It is thus apparent that with the locking units 29 folded in the position just described the locking tongues 4I which are free of adhesive will be relatively movable and will project inwardly with respect to the ends and the locking unit as an entity. The box made up from the blank into open condition for use as disclosed in Fig. l of the drawings shows that the locking tongues will project inwardly from the end of the box to extend between the sides l and.

the box bottom. These locking tongues are in efg j fect flexible hinged projections under tension constantly urging them inwardly as a result of the bending of the fibres of the material of the blank along the top edges of the ends 3, as shown in Fig. 2. Hence, the locking tongues are flexible in their action, for they may be forced back against the ends of the box by engagement with the sides when the box is in the process of being opened as will become apparent hereinafter, but when the sides are erect the tongues will spring back into inwardly projecting and locking position. While I have shown the locking tongues 4I of tapering contour it is to be understood that I do not intend such disclosure to be limiting in its nature, as it is within the spirit and scope of my invention to so design such elements in any shape or form to provide the required flexibility of action and locking qualities.

From the arrangement of the blank and the subsequent setting up of the blank into the box it is evident that by the unique arrangement of parts I have provided a box which is reinforced at a considerable number of areas thereon. Thus, for instance, the side walls I are reinforced by the members I1 which are folded inwardly against the side and portions of which are glued thereto. The same general reinforcing arrangement is accomplished by the areas to which adhesive is supplied to the locking units, which when in operative position tend to reinforce and strengthen the ends 3. The flaps 2l constitute further reinforcing members for the ends of the box as well as connecting the sides and ends together. Such reinforcement of the box is believed desirable as presenting a more usable product but if it is found in the production of the blanks from which these boxes are `formed that it is more economical or practical to do away with certain of these reinforcing elements it is clearly understood that such resulting structure will fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. For instance, the free flaps I9 in the particular embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings are formed coextensive and integral with the reinforcing members I1, yet the members I1 could be eliminated and the flaps secured to the sides I for relative movement with respect thereto by means of short portions glued or pasted to said sides.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings I have presented the box in partially collapsed position in which the operation of the various elements of the invention are clearly disclosed. When the box is collapsed completely as disclosed in Fig. 6 of the drawings the ends 3 are folded over and extended across the sides I which are folded flat against the bottom of the box. Consideration of Fig. 5 of the drawings shows the triangular folding portions I5 of the sides I folded along the creased lines I4 and spaced from the free flaps I9 to thereby fold over and lie fiat against the outer sides of the walls I while the free flaps I9 are in position against the bottom ofthe box.

With the box entirely collapsed and substantially positioned as disclosed in Fig. 6 of the drawings it may be opened and locked into open position by one facile operation which consists of merely grasping the sides I and Iifting them upwardly. This simple arrangement for locking the box in open position is considered important as overcoming a long felt need in this particular art where collapsible boxes when opened lack sufficient rigidity to remain in such position.

This operation results in outward movement of the ends 3 to erect position, movement of portions I5 along creases I4 to position portions I5 in the same plane as sides I and lifting the free flaps outwardly against the tension of the locking tongues 4I. When the sides I and the ends 3.are in erect position the free flaps I9 will have passed the outer edges of the locking tongues 4I and will be in position resting snugly against the sides I, the locking tongues having flexed inwardly to project in side w-all locking position between the sides I and the bottom of the box to thereby retain the sides in full openf position against collapsing.

As pointed out the locking device is cut at slit 25 so that it is slightly smaller than end 3 and will provide space between the locking tongues 4I and the sides I of the box wherein the free naps Il can fit snugly.

By grasping the sides I of the collapsed box and placing them in full erect position it is evident that the ends 3 will be moved to erect position through the action of the reinforcing and connecting flaps 2| and that the` sides I will be retained and permanently locked in erect position by means of the free flaps I9 passing beyond the outer edges of the locking tongues 4I which spring inwardly to retain the box in open position.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings I have disclosed a further arrangement of my invention which provides a modified form of structure whereby the box may be collapsed and opened with considerable facility and in the detailed description to follow I shall use the same numerals as heretofore used to designate similar parts.

In this form of my invention the blank is formed with crease lines and 1 forming sides and ends I and 3 respectively. The locking units 29 providing projections 4| are of similar construction to that of the preferred form of the invention. As shown especially in Fig. '7 of the drawings the end walls 3 are provided with coextensive aps 43 which are relatively movable with respect to the end walls along crease lines 45. The flaps 43 are provided with diagonal crease lines 4'I extending from each corner of the box to a point on the upper edge of the ap to divide each flap into two sections, an inner section 49 and an outer section 5I.

The box is disposed into open condition by folding the sides and ends into erect position and by folding the naps 43 on crease lines 45 to abut the exterior of the sides I of the box, the sides being retained in such erect position by the action of the locking tongues 4| as hereinbefore explained. A portion of the inner section 49 of each flap being secured to the side I by means of any desirable adhesive and the outer section 5| being free of adhesive and therefore not secured to the box sides, but in open position being in snug engagement therewith.

In collapsing the box reference is made to Fig, 9 of the drawings which discloses the box in partially collapsed position wherein the ap 43 is folded along the crease line 45 as the side I moves away from the outer section 5| of the iiap which folds outwardly to overlie the inner section 49 to thereby form a compact collapsed box unit. In opening this form of box the same operation is followed as in the box of my preferred form of invention, the ends of the sides I passing over the locking tongues are held in open position thereby as in the hereinbefore described structure.

I have designated the walls of the box in the specification and claims as sides and ends merely for purposes of description, but it is to be understood that the sides and ends and the elements combined and cooperating therewith could be reversed and still fall within the scope and intent of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. A collapsible box comprising oppositely disposed sides and oppositely disposed ends foldably connected to said sides, a bottom connecting said sides and ends, each of the sides having a fold line extending at an acute angle from each corner of the box to define a folding portion of the side, side reinforcing members of substantially the same dimensions as the sides secured along their major portions to the sides but free thereof at each end, aps formed by said free portions of the reinforcing members the flaps being disposed in position with the outer edges thereof adjacent to but relatively movable with respect to the ends of the box, locking units having a central portion thereof adhesively secured to the inner surfaces of the box ends to form box end reinforcing members and the locking units having end portions free of and unsecured to the box ends and independently movable with respect to the secured portions of the locking units, said free end portions of the locking units forming flexible independently operable locking tongues for engagement with the flaps to lock the sides in erect position.

2. A collapsible box comprising oppositely disposed sides and oppositely disposed ends foldably connected to said sides, a bottom connecting said sides and ends, each of the sides having a fold line extending at an acute angle from each corner of the box to define a folding portion of the side, side reinforcing members of substantially the same dimensions as the sides secured along their major portions to the sides but free thereof at each end, iiaps formed by said free portions of the reinforcing members, the flaps being disposed in position with the outer edges thereof adjacent to but relatively movable with respect to the ends of the box, locking units of substantially rectangular shape having upwardlyy converging slits therein, box end reinforcing members formed by the portions of the locking units disposed below and dened by the slits, such reinforcing members being adhesively secured to the inner surfaces of the box ends, and locking tongues formed by the portions of the locking units above and dened by the slits, the locking tongues being free of and unsecured'to the box ends and independently movable with respect to the secured portions of the locking units, for engagement with the flaps to lock the sides in erect position.

HENRY HIRSCH. 

